Guidance

Bluetongue: how to spot and report it

The signs of bluetongue virus, how you must report it and what happens when you do.

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency
Published:Published
26 August 2014
Last updated:updated
11 1 SeptemberJuly 2026 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease caused by infection with bluetongue virus. Bluetongue virus is mainly spread by biting midges.

Bluetongue virus affects:

  • sheep
  • cattle
  • other ruminants such as deer and goats
  • camelids such as llamas and alpacas

Rarely, bluetongue can affect dogs and other carnivores if they eat infected material (such as aborted material and afterbirth).

It does not affect people or food safety, but outbreaks can result in prolonged animal movement and trade restrictions.

Find out about current bluetongue cases, risk levels, vaccinations and restrictions.

Signs of bluetongue

If you keep livestock, you must keep a close watch for and report any suspicion of bluetongue in your animals.

The severity of the infection depends on the type (serotype) of the virus and may also be affected by the strain.

In sheep

Sheep are more likely to show obvious clinical signs of bluetongue than cattle if they become infected with bluetongue virus. Signs of bluetongue in sheep include:

  • ulcers or sores in the mouth and nose
  • discharge from the eyes or nose and drooling from mouth
  • swelling of the lips, tongue, head and neck and the coronary band (where the skin of the leg meets the horn of the foot)

Other clinical signs include:

  • red skin as a result of blood collecting beneath the surface
  • fever
  • lameness
  • breathing problems
  • abortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths
  • death

In lambs

Lambs can become infected with bluetongue virus before birth if the dam is infected while pregnant. Signs of infection include:  

  • lambs born small, weak, deformed or blind  
  • death of lambs within a few days of birth  
  • stillbirths 

In cattle

Signs of bluetongue in cattle include:

  • lethargy
  • crusty erosions around the nostrils and muzzle
  • redness of the mouth, eyes, nose
  • reddening of the skin above the hoof
  • nasal discharge
  • reddening and erosions on the teats
  • fever
  • milk drop
  • not eating
  • abortion, foetal deformities and stillbirths

Adult cattle may be infectious for several weeks while showing little or no sign of disease. They are often the preferred host for biting midges (the vector of bluetongue virus).

In calves

Calves can become infected with bluetongue virus before birth if the mother is infected while pregnant. Signs of infection include:

  • calves born small, weak, deformed or blind
  • death of calves within a few days of birth
  • stillbirths

Photos of signs of bluetongue

Credit: The Pirbright Institute.

A photo of a sheep with its mouth open showing a blue and swollen tongue.

Credit: The Pirbright Institute.

A photo of a sheep with its open mouth open showing ulcers on the gums.

There are more photos of clinical signs of bluetongue on Flickr.

Report suspected bluetongue

If you suspect bluetongue, you must report it immediately by calling:  

  • 03000 200 301 in England  
  • 03003 038 268 in Wales  
  • your local Field Services Office in Scotland  

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. This means if you do not report it, you’re breaking the law.

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    Preventing and controlling bluetongue

    Find out how to prevent bluetongue and stop it spreading.

Updates to this page

Published 26 August 2014
Last updated 111 SeptemberJuly 20262025 href="#full-history">—+ Showshow all updates

  1. Updated the section on reporting suspected cases of bluetongue. Veterinary surgeons can now report suspected bluetongue cases based on clinical signs using a new form.

  2. Made minor changes to the guidance under the 'What happens when you report bluetongue in England' heading.

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